NHL Rumors: Larkin Trade Return, Philp Retires, Penguins’ Bold Bet – The Hockey Writers – NHL Rumors

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Detroit Red Wings are navigating a tricky situation surrounding Dylan Larkin, but it sounds like they know what they want in return if the trade ever gets made. Meanwhile, a former Edmonton Oilers forward has stepped away from hockey once again. Finally, the Pittsburgh Penguins are making headlines with a bold long-term gamble on a young forward. Why? It seems like an unnecessary risk.

Trade talk involving Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin continues to be put on hold, but the organization does have an ask. According to reports, the Red Wings are not interested in futures like draft picks or prospects if they move Larkin. Instead, they want players who can help immediately.

Moving Larkin for long-term assets would signal a step back into a rebuild—something the team appears eager to avoid. In other words, whoever becomes the next GM of the team (Shawn Horcoff is running the day-to-day right now) will not be tasked with a rebuild. With core pieces like Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider already established, management is focused on staying competitive.

Competitive teams are unlikely to trade away a good player for Larkin. This is likely why the deal with Minnesota fell apart.

Noah Philp Steps Away From Hockey Again

In a surprising development, former Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes forward Noah Philp has stepped away from professional hockey, citing a lack of motivation. The 27-year-old recently signed with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League but has now broken his contract before ever playing a game.

Philp issued an apology to the organization, explaining that he didn’t feel fully invested and wanted to be honest rather than continue without full commitment. The decision leaves HV71 scrambling, as the team had expected him to play a key role down the middle with the season fast approaching.

This isn’t the first time Philp has walked away from the game. He previously left hockey during the 2023–24 season before returning and earning a brief NHL opportunity with Edmonton.

Penguins Make Risky Long-Term Bet on Koivunen

The Pittsburgh Penguins turned heads by signing restricted free agent Ville Koivunen to an eight-year contract, a significant commitment for a player with limited NHL experience. The 23-year-old recorded just seven points in 39 NHL games last season, though he was highly productive in the AHL.

General manager Kyle Dubas is clearly betting on upside and trying to get ahead of the spiking salary cap. By locking Koivunen in now, the Penguins are buying out his remaining restricted free agent years and several unrestricted years, potentially getting a deal on the player they believe he’ll become. If it doesn’t pan out, the risk is fairly minimal.

At $4 million per season, if he becomes a reliable middle-six scorer, the Penguins will have secured strong value. If he exceeds expectations, it could be a home run. If Koivunen stalls as a fringe NHL player, Pittsburgh could be carrying an underperforming contract for eight years, but they could buy him out at just a 33 percent penalty.

Dubas appears comfortable with that risk. Josh Yohe of The Athletic writes, “I was told that Dubas sees the Koivunen deal as “low risk, high reward.” Which is to say, the cap is rising to the point that he’s willing to risk losing $4 million annually for eight years if Koivunen is a bust.”